Sweets or candy as the Americans call the sweet item loved mostly by children, have kept poverty out of the door for Ms Segametsi Shadreck.

Facing unemployment and a bleak future, Ms Shadreck decided to venture into business specialising in selling sweets at the Mogoditshane Junction along the Gabane road.

All she hoped for when she started her sweet business was that it would pay the bills and put food on the table for her children.

The street vendor says her sweet business is profitable as she can make up to P1 000 per month from just selling the sweet stuff.

She is not concerned that some street vendors do not have the interest to trade in sweets because she is happy with what she makes at the end of every month.

"Sweets are the most selling products, especially in the afternoons," notes Ms Shadreck, adding that the only problem is that at night thieves sometimes terrorize them.

Other than sweets, Ms Shadreck also sells airtime, bananas, apples and biscuits, but says sweets are the most profitable.

"At the end of the month, I have something in the pocket to sustain myself and my family unlike if I was not working at all," she adds.

The sweet seller says she plans to buy a vehicle in the near future using money from her business.

She notes that in business it is not always smooth sailing, and that her challenge is stiff competition from other street vendors who also sell similar products next to her.

"However my secret is that I always try to create my own customers so that they keep buying from me. I always help my customers with a smile and make them feel welcome at all times," she says.

Although street vendors are always at war often with council authorities, she says the Mogoditshane-Thamaga sub-council has not given her any problems since she started her business in the area.

She, however, acknowledges that sometimes she has some disagreements with them, but that it has not discouraged her from pursuing her business.

She urges council authorities to assist them by building shades where they can sell their products from, noting that it is difficult to do business during windy and rainy days as they end up not coming for business or their products are blown away by strong winds.

Ms Shadreck urges others, especially those who are not employed, to venture into small businesses such as selling sweets to sustain themselves.